This was by far the furthest I had ever been from home, my white and silver paws having carried me a long way today. Mother and Father would be displeased with me, I was sure, but they did not understand. I had to see, I had to know, I had to understand and maybe I was to small and to young- but greatness never came from staying within the den and waiting to hold my Mothers hand before I stepped outside, greatness never came to those to afraid to climb- if only to fear they’d fall. I was nervous, I think, just a little- though I had no desire to show it, making each step more confident then I felt as the violet and gold of my eyes peered into the darkness. I wanted to know what was done each crack and rivet, I wanted to know where the water come from so that one day….I could lead armies through here, so I would know where every source of water is and all the best game to be found. I had to know, because I needed to be better then anyone else, I needed to eclipse the shadow of my parents and grandparents in turn. If Heyel was the name of a Legend in this land, then I wanted to be just as remembered- one day, though perhaps not for reasons the same. I had my own plans, my own ideas and maybe it was that independence of mind that led me so far from home today, paws leaping up and over rocks and fallen branches, the sound of trickling water sounding somewhere in the distance as I finally slowed.

I was near the water, I was sure, red-brushed ears pricked further forward as I moved, ducking into a tunnel of sorts, the light coming from the end assuring as I was going the right way. Orfiel would have enjoyed this, Jaeger too, perhaps even Ninevah. Maybe I would invite them next time I came out, when I had discovered every hold and crevice for myself, if only to have their faces look upon me with awe at my vast knowledge of such things. They didn’t have to know I had been here before. I chuckled softly, stepping back out and into the light, pausing atop a small ridge of sorts that looked down and towards a rock pool- but how to get down to it?



h y r u l e
The Once and Future King